Artificial Intelligence

AI Impersonator Targets Rubio, Contacts Foreign Ministers

JUL 8 2025·Updated JUL 9 2025

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Above: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 7, 2025. Image credit: Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

According to a cable seen by multiple outlets this week, an unknown actor used AI to impersonate U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contacting at least five high-ranking officials, including three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor, and a member of Congress, through fake voice messages and texts on the Signal messaging app in mid-June.
Red State
BBC News
The Washington Post
The impersonator created a fake Signal account with the display name "marco.rubio@state.gov" and used AI-powered software to mimic Rubio's voice and writing style, leaving voicemails for at least two targeted individuals and sending text messages inviting communication.
LiveNOW from FOX
Guardian
U.S. authorities don't know who was behind the impersonation attempts, but believe the goal was to manipulate powerful government officials to gain access to information or accounts, according to the July 3 State Department cable, which was sent to all diplomatic posts.
New York Post
BBC News
The Washington Post
The State Department confirmed it is investigating the incident and taking steps to improve cybersecurity defenses, with one U.S. official, speaking anonymously, describing the hoaxes as unsuccessful and "not very sophisticated."
The Independent
LiveNOW from FOX
This follows a pattern of AI-driven impersonations targeting senior U.S. officials, including a May breach where someone impersonated White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles after accessing her phone system. Last year, a fake robocall pretending to be then-President Joe Biden urged voters to skip the New Hampshire primary election.
Guardian
Red State
BBC News
The FBI issued a warning in May about impersonation attempts via AI-generated voice messages and texts, advising recipients not to assume messages claiming to be from senior officials are authentic without verification.
LiveNOW from FOX
CNBC

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

This latest impersonation case underscores the evolving national security challenges posed by generative AI. While its real-time voice capabilities can be exploited for social engineering, federal agencies are actively adapting with AI-drive defenses to address these risks. There's still much to be done, however, including tabletop exercises and enhanced cybersecurity training, to protect national interests.

VentureBeat

Establishment-critical narrative

The repetitive AI-driven impersonations of high-ranking U.S. officials reveal the government's alarming unpreparedness for emerging technological threats. Despite clear warnings and prior incidents, the current and prior administration have failed to implement robust cybersecurity measures. This negligence not only endangers diplomatic relations but also sets a perilous precedent for the misuse of artificial intelligence in the political arena.

Politico

Cynical narrative

While impersonating officials is troubling, the government's warnings about AI threats ring hollow when it deploys AI surveillance against citizens. Trump's immigration agenda, for example, relies on facial recognition, sentiment analysis, and predictive analytics, risking bias and profiling. Cronyism in contract awards further undermines trust. Citizens must demand transparency and use encryption to protect privacy.